‘Blackmail ring’ foreigners face deportation

CEBU, Philippines - The 26 Taiwanese who were arrested with 43 Chinese on Tuesday allegedly for being  members of a blackmail syndicate will be deported to Taiwan once their passports are revoked.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, Police Regional Office-7 regional directorial staff chief, said the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines is set to cancel the passports of the 26 Taiwanese to pave the way for their immediate deportation.

PRO-7, he said, is also closely coordinating with the Chinese Consulate for the deportation of the Chinese suspects.

Lawas said that TECO is now processing the documents of the 26 and was working to have them deported right away for the prosecution of their case in Taiwan.

“We are mutually cooperating.  Niari sila seeking our support. Siguro it’s a matter of who is going to file the case….  Wala man poy aggrieved party sa Pilipinas,” he said.

Lawas said the complaint against the foreigners was originally filed under TECO so the Taiwanese police force acted on it. But as the investigation progressed it turned out that the blackmail operations were perpetrated in the Philippines.

“This case is being recognized in their area and considering that the victims are from their place they (Taiwan authorities) have to file the case so they (suspects) need to be deported for them to answer the case,” he said.

He, however, said they will push through the filing of the case in the Philippines if the arrested persons are not deported back to their respective countries.

Lawas also said that his office is likewise in constant communication with the Chinese Consulate for the deportation of its citizens.

Since the arrested foreigners have violated the immigration laws of the Philippines and of the Access Device Regulations Act of 1998, authorities are now coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to have them all blacklisted in the country.

On Wednesday night, the arrested foreigners were taken back to the places where they were arrested under heavy escort to prevent them from escaping while deportation proceedings are still ongoing.  (FREEMAN)